Dr. Chronis-Tuscano is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Maryland and Director of the Maryland ADHD Program and UMD SUCCEEDS College ADHD Clinic. Dr. Chronis-Tuscano's research focuses broadly on understanding early predictors of developmental outcomes for children with Attention- Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (including depression and alcohol/substance use) and developing novel treatments which target these early risk and protective factors. Much of this research has addressed issues related to maternal parenting and psychopathology (namely, maternal depression and ADHD). A secondary line of research aims to examine the trajectory of young children displaying early behavioral inhibition, including the development of psychopathology, and to intervene by targeting key moderators of outcome (e.g., parenting and social relationships).
Dr. Chronis-Tuscano is the Past-President of the International Society for Research in Child and Adolescent Psychopathology; Associate Editor of the Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology; Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science; Fellow of the Association for Behavioral & Cognitive Therapies (ABCT); Fellow of the Society for Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology (SCCAP); former Associate Editor of the Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology; and standing member of the NIMH Mental Health Services Research (SERV) review committee. She is the recipient of multiple NIH grants and has served on several NIH review committees relevant to developmental psychopathology and interventions.

Dr. Linsky has extensive training in evidence-based assessment and treatments for children, adolescents and young adults suffering from emotional and behavioral disorders. She earned her Ph.D. from Rutgers University, where she was a member of the Social Emotional and Character Development Lab. In her research, Dr. Linsky developed, implemented, and evaluated social-emotional and character development interventions in schools. Dr. Linsky completed her clinical internship at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Combined Specialization. During her internship, Dr. Linsky worked with individuals across the lifespan, honing her specialized skills in treating anxiety, grief, trauma, and related disorders. To complete her postdoctoral training, Dr. Linsky joined the team at the Youth Anxiety Center at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. At the Youth Anxiety Center, Dr. Linsky has built upon her expertise in the treatment of adolescents and young adults with anxiety and related disorders and contributed to research evaluating innovative interventions for this population.

Evelyn R. Klein, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCS-CL is a Professor at La Salle University and a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She holds professional licensure as a speech-language pathologist and clinical psychologist with board certification in child language. Her areas of specialization include selective mutism, autism spectrum disorders, language-learning disabilities, and stuttering. Dr. Klein co-directs the CASTLE Center for specialized comprehensive assessments at La Salle University. She is the recipient of the Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award, the Faculty Distinguished Scholarship Award, and the Pennsylvania Clinical Achievement Award.

Andrea Temkin, Psy.D., is an Attending Psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine/New York Presbyterian Hospital. She is a licensed psychologist and member of the WCM/NYP Youth Anxiety Center, with expertise in cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety, depression, attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and related conditions. She offers individual and group therapy for both youth and their parents, and is a certified in Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Her research has centered on ways to improve accessibility of services and educational content made available to patients and families by utilizing streamlined, transdiagnostic approaches, as well as leveraging technology.

Cesar E. Ruiz, SLP.D, CCC-SLP, BCS-S, is a Professor at La Salle University in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Dr. Ruiz is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist. He holds Board Certification in Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders and is a Voice Clinical Specialist. His areas of specialization include selective mutism, dysphagia, voice disorders, and bilingualism. Dr. Ruiz is an author of ECHO: A Vocal Language Program for Easing Anxiety in Conversation. He co-directs the CASTLE Center at La Salle University in Philadelphia. The CASTLE Center is a specialized comprehensive assessment center where children with Selective Mutism are evaluated. Dr. Ruiz has pioneered the use of vocal control to help children with Selective Mutism. He has presented on topics related to his area of expertise locally, nationally, and internationally.

Louis R. Chesney, BSc, is the Product Manager of Neurodiversity & Inclusion for Whil, a Rethink Division overseeing the expansion of Whil’s Inclusion experts, course content, and training approach. He is an expert in providing employer support to drive workplace inclusion and strengthen interpersonal skills. Louis championed and led a hiring program for adults with autism at a global technology company and is the co-author of “ECHO: A Vocal Language Program for Easing Anxiety in Conversation,” a Plural Publishing book designed to help children in need of social communication support.

Rachel Busman, PsyD, ABPP is the senior director of the Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Related Disorders Center at Cognitive Behavioral Consultants. She was previously the director of the Anxiety Disorders Center and Selective Mutism Service at the Child Mind Institute. She ran Brave Buddies, an intensive treatment program for SM for many years. Dr. Busman is the former president of the Selective Mutism Association, the nation’s largest network of professionals, families, and individuals with selective mutism.

Dr. Busman has extensive experience providing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to children, teenagers and young adults struggling with anxiety disorders, school difficulties and behavioral problems. She also has specific interest and expertise in the evaluation and treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, separation anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder and specific phobias. She is certified in PCIT-SM and has lectured widely on this topic. She trains others through the SMA and is passionate about her work with children and families.

Annie Dantowitz, LICSW received her B.A. in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in Human Development and Family Studies and went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Social Work with a group work certification at Boston University. She is a clinician, supervisor, and Group Work Director at the Child and Adolescent Fear and Anxiety Treatment Program at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders at Boston University. Annie specializes in treating anxiety disorders in children and adolescents using Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and exposure in particular. She has extensive experience working with children with Selective Mutism and their parents. In addition to providing direct individual and group treatment for Selective Mutism and other anxiety disorders Annie provides training and consultation to clinicians and school staff.

Stella Silver, Psy.D. is a New Jersey Licensed Psychologist and Certified School Psychologist with 20 years of professional experience. Her private practice in Monmouth County, New Jersey offers consultation, diagnosis and psychological treatment for children, adolescents and adults. She utilizes an integrative approach, where treatment is tailored to each particular client and their unique needs. Dr. Silver maintains a Diplomate in School Neuropsychology certificate, and provides comprehensive evaluations for families and schools. Her areas of expertise include anxiety disorders, OCD, ADHD, developmental disorders, learning disabilities, and Selective Mutism (SM). Dr. Silver works as a consultant for school districts in New Jersey, providing staff training and designing treatment plans for students diagnosed with SM. She provides parent support to navigate and work collaboratively with schools.

Dr. Becky Thomson is a Licensed Psychologist and the Clinic Director at Thriving Minds – Chelsea (www.thrivingmindsbehavioralhealth.com), a group practice that specializes in the evaluation and treatment of pediatric behavioral health concerns. Dr. Thomson particularly enjoys treating anxiety disorders, including Selective Mutism, using evidence-based behavioral and cognitive-behavioral approaches. She is passionate about helping children and adolescents build bravery and confidence to conquer anxiety using an exposure-based approach, and she makes it a top priority to collaborate closely with parents, school, and others to optimize outcomes.

Dr. Lianna Wilson is a clinical psychologist at Boston Child Study Center (BCSC). After completing her M.A. in psychology at Boston University, Dr. Wilson received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She provides evidence-based treatments for a wide range of mental health presentations in children, adolescents, and young adults, as well as provides support and skills to their families. She is an active member of the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), and Selective Mutism (SM) teams at BCSC. She is a Certified Therapist in both MATCH-ADTC (modular approach to therapy for children with anxiety, depression, trauma, conduct problems) and PCIT through PCIT International. Dr. Wilson also has substantial experience consulting with schools and teachers regarding internalizing and externalizing concerns, with training in Teacher-Child Interaction Training (TCIT). She is currently working on the development of an emotion coaching protocol for caregivers.

To be added.

Ms. Geddes is an Assistant Psychologist with over 10 years of experience working with children and adolescents. Ms. Geddes completed her Masters in Psychology from The University of Roehampton, UK.

Ms. Geddes is the associate director of the selective mutism program at the CDT, she also focuses on psychoeducational evaluations and is trained in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Previously, Daisy has worked extensively with children presenting with a range of social-emotional, intellectual, and developmental difficulties.

Junhua is the mother of a child who had overcome selective mutism. Over the past 10 years, she has been an advocate in the Chinese community for children with selective mutism and their parents. She shared her personal experience with millions to increase public awareness of SM, and coached SM parents one at a time to help their children overcome selective mutism.

Junhua is the co-author of the forthcoming book, A Companion Workbook to the Selective Mutism Resource Manual (SMRM) for Parents and Professionals. This book is co-authored with Maggie Johnson and to be published by Speechmark | Routledge Education, UK in 2022.

Junhua is the lead English-to-Chinese translator for several books about selective mutism, including: The Selective Mutism Resource Manual 2nd ED (Maggie Johnson & Alison Wintgens); The Selective Mutism Treatment Guide (Ruth Perednik); and Sophie's Story: A Guide to Selective Mutism (Vera Joffe).

Dr. Kawa is a Child & Adolescent Psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at Children’s Wisconsin. She provides evidence-based and research-informed assessment and intervention services for children and adolescents with anxiety, ADHD, depression, behavioral disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, and trauma. She has provided individual therapy, group therapy, and assessment for children with Selective Mutism and has participated in the Selective Mutism Training Institute for professionals. She also has a specialty in the area of PCIT. Dr. Kawa completed her training through the University of Wisconsin-Madison School Psychology program.

Taylor Hicks-Hoste is a licensed psychologist (LP) in the states of Michigan and California, as well as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP). She received her Ph.D. in school psychology from Michigan State University. Her professional experiences span across both school and clinic settings. As a school psychologist, she has serviced students, families and teachers, grades preschool through twelfth grade. She has also worked as a countywide behavioral health consultant, in which she has partnered with local districts in the promotion of mental health awareness and in the direct provision of school-based mental health supports to students. Taylor’s clinical work at Thriving Minds in Michigan includes the treatment of children, teens, and families with an emphasis on anxiety-based disorders such as selective mutism, separation anxiety, and school refusal.

Steven Kurtz, PhD, ABPP specializes in assessing and treating child anxiety, such as selective mutism and social phobia, as well as externalizing behaviors, such as ADHD and oppositionality. Dr. Kurtz is the original developer of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Adapted for Selective Mutism (PCIT-SM), an empirically supported therapy for selective mutism now used worldwide and created the renowned Mighty Mouth Kids and Brave Buddies intensive SM treatment programs.

He is a Global Trainer in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). As an expert commentator, he has appeared on numerous programs addressing child mental health, including NBC's Today, CBS's The Early Show and PBS's Keeping Kids Healthy and was featured in the Canadian Broadcasting Company's ADD & Lovin' It. He is a Board Certified Specialist in Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology and volunteers time in the leadership of numerous organizations such as the Selective Mutism Association.

Dr. Zimmerman is a pediatric neurology who currently sees patients through Massachusetts General Hospital. He has practiced for 45 years in both academic and private practice, and has published research in several areas of clinical research, most recently clinical trials in Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Dr. Leeann Fogelson is a licensed psychologist who conducts individual, family, and group therapies with children, adolescents, and their parents. Dr. Fogelson specializes in the treatment of anxiety and disruptive behavior disorders, with subspecialties in selective mutism, ADHD, and oppositional defiant disorder. Dr. Fogelson is certified by Kurtz Psychology Consulting as a PCIT Adapted for Selective Mutism therapist and is certified by PCIT International as a PCIT therapist and within agency trainer. Dr. Fogelson works as the Director of PCIT services at Growing Minds Psychology, a private practice, in New York, NY.

Dr. Fogelson obtained her PhD in School Psychology from Fordham University where she also received her master’s degree in Therapeutic Interventions. Dr. Fogelson completed her Post-Doctoral fellowship at Kurtz Psychology Consulting and Pre-Doctoral internship at both Kurtz Psychology Consulting and the Churchill School and Center in New York, New York.

Dr. Ellyn Schmidt is a clinical psychologist at the Boston Child Study Center. She completed her Ph.D. in School Psychology at Northeastern University and is also a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. Dr. Schmidt specializes in working with preschool and elementary age children, their families, and their teachers to address a wide variety of challenges including disruptive behaviors, attention problems, anxiety, selective mutism, and emotion regulation difficulties, as well as social and behavioral challenges related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). At BCSC, Dr. Schmidt is a member of the PCIT/Young Child, Selective Mutism, and Early ASD Assessment teams. She is certified as both a PCIT therapist and a within-agency PCIT trainer through PCIT International, and is clinically trained in treatment adaptations of PCIT for anxiety (PCIT-CALM), selective mutism (PCIT-SM), and ASD. She also consults to classroom teachers and school staff regarding the implementation of Teacher-Child Interaction Training (TCIT).

Kary Mirasola, CCC-SLP is a Speech-Language Pathologist through the Masters Family Speech and Hearing Center at Children’s Wisconsin. She completes her clinical work through the School Performance Program at the Child Development Center. Kary Mirasola has worked primarily with school age students and adolescents with Language Learning Disabilities (LLDs) and comorbid mental health conditions during her 20+ year career. She has been fortunate to learn from and grow with an exceptional group of speech language pathologists, psychologists, developmental pediatricians, and nurse practitioners at Children’s Wisconsin. Kary is an ASHA Leadership Development Program Alum and is honored to serve as the professional development manager for SIG 1.

Dr. Miller received her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Emory University and continued her education at The Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology at Widener University, where she received my Master of Arts and Doctor of Psychology degrees. As a clinical psychologist and former school psychologist, she has been in private practice since 2006. Prior, she worked in educational settings ranging from preschools to colleges, as well as in multiple clinical settings.
Dr. Miller specializes in treating a wide range of anxiety disorders across the life span, including selective mutism, OCD, phobias, separation anxiety, and generalized anxiety. She provides evidence-based, expert treatment for selective mutism (SM), an anxiety disorder of childhood.

Saori Murakami is the Medical Director of the Boston Child Study Center and a board certified child and adolescent psychiatrist. Dr. Murakmi specializes in evidence-based treatment for anxiety disorders, behavior disorders, depression, trauma and emotion dysregulation disorders in children, adolescents, young adults and families.

Dr. Murakami earned her medical degree from the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She completed her psychiatry residency at Harvard Medical School Longwood Psychiatry Residency Training Program and her Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital. Dr. Murakami is double board certified in psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry.

Before joining the Boston Child Study Center, Dr. Murakami served as the assistant medical director of the McLean-Franciscan Hospital Child and Adolescent Inpatient Program. Dr. Murakami provides evidence-based outpatient psychopharmacological consultations and treatment to BCSC families at our Natick, MA center.

Kendra Read, PhD is a clinical psychologist, the Director of the Mood & Anxiety Program and Director of Anxiety Programs at Seattle Children’s. She is also the Director of Psychotherapy Training and Co-Chair of the Curriculum Committee through the University of Washington School of Medicine Child Psychiatry Fellowship. Dr. Read specializes in the treatment of youth with anxiety disorders and OCD from a cognitive behavioral therapy perspective. Her research interests include understanding factors that contribute to treatment outcome, and the dissemination and implementation of CBT for anxiety disorders.

Aileen Herrera, M.S., LMHC, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and the Clinical Director of the Mental Health Interventions and Technology (MINT) Anxiety Program at the Center for Children and Families (CCF) at Florida International University. She has extensive clinical training in cognitive and behavioral treatments for children and adolescents, with a special emphasis on selective mutism. She supervises student trainees and provides weekly and intensive treatment in English and Spanish for children and teens with anxiety and directs specialty programs for youth with selective mutism. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Selective Mutism Association.

Dr. Maayan Shorer is a clinical psychologist, who established the selective mutism unit at Schneider Children Medical Center of Israel, and was the unit's head for over 10 years. Dr. Shorer is currently a lecturer at the Clinical Psychology Department of Ruppin Academic Center. Her research focuses on selective mutism, parenting practices (and particularly parental playfulness), and pediatric PTSD.

Dr. Joffe has been treating Selective Mutism for over 30 years. Dr. Joffe wrote a book for parents and for teachers from the point of view of a child with S.M.: Sophie’s Story: A Guide to Selective Mutism. This book has been translated into Portuguese, Chinese, and French. Dr. Joffe also provides treatment for children other anxiety disorders such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Specific Phobias, and Social Anxiety. She also provides assessment, treatment, and consultation for children with neurodevelopmental disorders, including ADHD, Tourette’s Syndrome anxiety, mood disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder. She works with children and families, consults with schools, hospitals, and has been a professional board member of CHADD. Dr. Joffe was a member of the National Board of Directors of the Selective Mutism Group for four years. Dr. Joffe has presented about Selective Mutism in National Conferences in the U.S. (SMA, APA, AACAP), and also in Israel and in Brazil.
Dr. Joffe uses empirically based cognitive-behavior and (behavior-cognitive) therapy for S.M., including PCIT-SM (as she is Certified in PCIT-SM and PCIT). However, Dr. Joffe also considers developmental, family, and environmental/cultural aspects of each individual case. Dr. Joffe‘s approach is to work mostly at schools and where the symptoms happen, thus her approach is “environmentally-based” as well. Dr. Joffe works Florida and in New York. Dr. Joffe also provides consultation and education to parents and teachers globally. She speaks English and Portuguese. Finally Dr. Joffe has developed (with Dr. Zimmerman and Dr. Panjwani) the Selective Mutism (SM) Family Questionnaire (2022). For more information and contact email vera@ verajoffe.com

Valerie Carozza is a doctoral candidate at the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University. She earned her B.S. in Applied Psychology at New York University and is currently pursuing her Psy.D. in School-Clinical Child Psychology. Throughout her training, Valerie has gained experience in conducting individual and group counseling with students and in conducting comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations in both school and clinical settings. Most recently, Valerie completed comprehensive training as a Clinical Extern at Kurtz Psychology Consulting, where she conducted psychotherapy with individuals, groups, and parents. Valerie received training in treatment of selective mutism and is currently certified in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Adapted for Selective Mutism (PCIT-SM). Currently, Valerie is a Clinical Extern at the NYU Child Study Center, where she specializes in early childhood as well as in working with children and adolescents with ADHD.

Dr. Rachel Merson, Psy.D., is the Clinical Director of the Child and Adolescent Fear and Anxiety Treatment Program at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders. She oversees all clinical activities at Child CARD and is deeply involved in training and supervising graduate students and trainees. Dr. Merson provides individual therapy, parent training groups, and neuropsychological evaluations. As Director of Child CARD's Selective Mutism Program, she leads Brave Bunch, an intensive treatment program for young children with selective mutism. An active member of the Selective Mutism Association's Board of Directors, she serves as President-Elect. She frequently trains schools and community groups on selective mutism and child anxiety.

Dr. Raggi is a licensed psychologist and director of Brighter Outlook Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, LLC. Dr. Raggi has over fifteen years of experience providing evidence-based treatment for youth and families with selective mutism and co-occurring disorders. She developed and directed an intensive summer camp for children with SM for the past six years with Dr. Kelly O'Brien at Alvord, Baker and Associates, through which she also collaborated on a pilot study to examine camp outcomes. Dr. Raggi supports other clinicians in treating SM through facilitating bi-monthly peer consultation groups within the SMA organization. She frequently trains and consults with schools in the treatment of anxiety and SM.

Dr. Raggi has a passion for bringing increased attention and awareness to the issues of youth anxiety and the application of evidence-based approaches, including effective parenting and school-based strategies. She writes a blog called Brave Voices for Psychology Today. She has been a speaker for podcasts, interviewed by the Washington Post and other media, and has published in numerous academic journals on evidence-based approaches to child mental health treatment. Dr. Raggi is first author of Exposure Therapy for Treating Anxiety in Children and Adolescents, a comprehensive, practical resource on the “how-to” of implementing exposure-based therapy for youth with anxiety.

Dr. Raggi received intensive training in the PCIT for SM approach through postdoctoral training with Dr. Steven Kurtz at the NYU Child Study Center. She earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park and completed an internship at Children’s Hospital in Washington, D.C.

Katelyn Reed, M.S. is a Limited Licensed Psychologist at Thriving Minds Family Services, located in Chelsea, MI. She completed her Master’s degree in Clinical Behavioral Psychology at Eastern Michigan University where she focused on evidence-based behavioral and cognitive behavioral interventions for children and adolescents. Through her work at Thriving Minds, Katelyn specializes in treating children with Selective Mutism via traditional weekly therapy, intensive therapy (i.e., 15-20 hours of treatment in one week), and group therapy models. Through an exposure therapy model, children with Selective Mutism are encouraged to be brave in talking with new people and in new settings. Katelyn emphasizes collaborative care and frequently works in partnership with parents and schools to best assist clients and to promote growth through education on appropriate goals and interventions. Katelyn is also the Assistant Director for Confident Kids Camp, an intensive week-long treatment program for children with Selective Mutism. In addition to her work with children with Selective Mutism, Katelyn provides evidenced-based therapy for children with other anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and disruptive behavior disorders.

Katelyn has been a professional member of the Selective Mutism Association since 2013 and joined the Board of Directors in 2017. Currently she serves as the President of SMA. She is passionate about spreading awareness about Selective Mutism and about effective treatment techniques and is excited to contribute to the mission of SMA through her involvement on the Board of Directors.

Dr. Rupal is a Board-Certified Pediatrician in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago where she lives with her husband, 3 children, and adorable puppy. She completed her undergraduate studies at The University of Chicago, in Chicago, IL. She then went on to The University of Illinois in Chicago for medical school. She did her training in General Pediatrics at Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn, IL.Dr. Rupal is in private practice with Associates in Pediatrics and is affiliated with St. Alexius Medical Center, Advocate Sherman Hospital, and Northwest Community Healthcare.
She first learned of SMA when her youngest daughter was diagnosed with SM at the age of 5. Since then she has been passionate about raising awareness of childhood anxiety disorders such as SM, particularly in the medical community.
Dr. Upadhyay joined the Board of Directors of the Selective Mutism Association in January of 2022 and continues to play an active role in educating her patients and community on selective mutism.

Dr. Kaitlyn Wilbur-Smith is a licensed clinical psychologist and the Director of Selective Mutism Services at the Boston Child Study Center. She received her Doctorate of Psychology from the University of Hartford in 2016. She specializes in the treatment of anxiety, mood, and disruptive behavior disorders, providing cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT). Dr. Wilbur-Smith is certified as both a PCIT therapist and a within-agency PCIT trainer by PCIT International and is clinically trained in treatment adaptations for selective mutism (PCIT-SM) and anxiety (PCIT-CALM). She is also certified in Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Children (DBT-C) and perinatal mental health (PMH-C). One of Dr. Wilbur-Smith’s primary clinical interests is treating youth with selective mutism. She is committed to using evidence-based treatments while incorporating an individualized approach and collaborating with caregivers and school personnel. Dr. Wilbur-Smith enjoys providing school training and consultation for selective mutism.

Elisa Shipon-Blum DO, is the President and Director of the Selective Mutism Anxiety and Related Disorders Treatment Center (SMart Center) located in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. She is the Founder and Director Emeritus of the Selective Mutism Association (SMA) and a Director of the Selective Mutism Research Institute (SMRI), a foundation established to study Dr. Shipon-Blum’s theories and treatment methodologies on Selective Mutism. In addition, Dr Shipon-Blum is Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychology & Family Medicine at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is a board certified physician who specializes in Selective Mutism.

Dr. Shipon-Blum practices in Jenkintown, PA, and has developed the evidenced-based Social Communication Anxiety Treatment (S-CAT)® from her years studying and researching individuals with Selective Mutism. She consults worldwide with families, treating professionals, and educators, and has helped thousands of children from around the world overcome Selective Mutism. Based on her successful S-CAT® program, Dr. E also created CommuniCamp™, an intensive group treatment program for children with Selective Mutism, social anxiety, and extreme shyness.

Jonathan Kohlmeier is from upstate New York and graduated from Babson College with a B.S. in Business Administration concentrating in Finance and Technology. He later obtained his M.A in Clinical Psychology from Teachers College - Columbia University. He was diagnosed with selective mutism at age five and is passionate about helping the countless individuals and caregivers that face similar challenges. Jonathan has volunteered at multiple SM intensive treatment programs since 2016 at Kurtz Psychology Consulting, the Child Mind Institute, and the Child & Adolescent Anxiety Practice. Additionally, he often speaks to SM support groups and schools about his memoir on selective mutism called Learning to Play the Game: My Journey Through Silence. He was featured on PBS Keeping Kids Healthy and BBC Our World.

Stephanie Rohrig, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist at Weil Cornell Medicine/NewYork Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. Dr. Rohrig is member of the Youth Anxiety Center at Cornell and is the Attending Psychologist in the NYPH Partial Hospitalization Programs, where she specializes in providing evidence-based treatment for teens and young adults with anxiety and depression. She is passionate about her philanthropy work as the Clinical Director of a nonprofit bereavement summer camp, Experience Camps, that offers grief activities to help youth who have experienced the death of a family member.

Chelsea Gamache is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in Southern NH. She was diagnosed with Selective Mutism at age five and is passionate about sharing her experience, raising awareness and helping others who are struggling with Selective Mutism and anxiety.

Chelsea hosts Outloud the Selective Mutism Podcast which aims to spread awareness and resources to families, teachers, and professionals. Chelsea has also volunteered at Selective Mutism intensive treatment programs at Child Mind Institute and Boston Child Study Center. She is honored to be a part of SMA Board of Directors and continue educating others about Selective Mutism.

Dr. Giglio is a US clinical psychologist who has been practicing in Hong Kong for 10+ years. She serves as the Director of Central Health Partners, Child Development Team, a multidisciplinary group of specialists offering speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, learning enhancement services, and therapy and counseling services. Dr. Giglio is also the co-founder of Brave Mighty Minds, a platform created to offer resources to educators and families. She co-authors the children's book Bravery Grows, a story about a young girl diagnosed with selective mutism.

Prior to Dr. Giglio’s arrival in Hong Kong, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and evidence-based treatment for Selective Mutism were unavailable to the English-speaking community. In 2014, Dr. Giglio launched the Confident Crew program, an intensive group behavioral therapy for selective mutism, the first of its kind in Asia, and modeled from Brave Buddies and the Mighty Mouth, programs created by Dr. Steven Kurtz, Ph.D., ABPP. She has invited clinicians and patients from all over the world to participate in Confident Crew to learn how to treat selective mutism effectively. Her passion for helping families with children diagnosed with anxiety disorders has led her to explore alternative ways of treatment delivery and to develop resources available to teachers and caregivers.

Dr. Giglio received training in Cognitive Behavioral at the NYU Child Study Center and New York Presbyterian Hospital. At NYU, Dr. Giglio was first introduced to the treatment of selective mutism. She was extensively trained by Global Trainers in PCIT for ADHD and disruptive behavior disorders and PCIT -SM for selective mutism. Her interest in effective treatments for SM inspired Dr. Giglio's dissertation research with children diagnosed with selective mutism. Dr. Giglio completed her post-doctoral fellowship at Child Mind Insititute in New York, was the Brave Buddies program coordinator, and was part of the ADHD service.

Dr. Giglio has presented at multiple international conferences and has been featured in the SCMP and the Asia Society podcast. She also sits on the non-profit organization's board, The Zubin Foundation, and is on the Executive Committee for FOCUS Hong Kong, a parent advocacy group.

Ruth Perednik is an expert psychologist, a pioneer in the treatment of children and teens suffering from selective mutism. She heads the Selective Mutism Treatment Center and has published articles and books on SM and bilingualism.
She has developed an innovative treatment approach, over two decades and thousands of cases of treating children with SM. She has written a clear, concise treatment manual which is divided into three sections: for therapists, parents and teachers. This cognitive behavioral treatment focuses on improved social communication, usually resulting in an excellent response to intervention within several months. The treatment is pioneering in that it is integrative and an ecosystems approach: the significant adults in the child’s world - the teacher, parents and therapist - are all considered therapeutic agents for change, and whenever possible, carry out their own, complementary interventions, in this way leveraging momentum for change and healing.
Perednik has developed online treatment courses – for parents and therapists, and has treated clients and trained mental health professionals the world over. She carries out brief intensive treatments around the world, which often lead to astounding progress, and lectures internationally in English, Spanish, and Hebrew.

Dr Kate Jones is Director of the charity Music Therapy Lambeth (MTL) which was set up in 2005 with the purpose of improving the health and wellbeing of children and families in this inner London borough. Kate began her research journey into Selective Mutism around 16 years ago after being referred ‘quiet children’ from nursery schools. These children responded quickly to Music Therapy returning to the classroom talking and often ‘loud’. Wanting to investigate this phenomenon further Kate began case study research and in 2019 was awarded a PhD from Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. Kate’s mission is to spread awareness of Selective Mutism and the potential role for Music Therapy. She has produced a video for BBC news and published articles (2012, 2022) and a chapter in the book ‘Tackling Selective Mutism’ (2014). Kate is currently seeking funding to develop a manualised approach to Music Therapy for Selective Mutism.

Dr. Bice-Urbach is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin and has been working as a clinical psychologist at the Center for Child Development, a developmental clinic through Children’s Wisconsin. Dr. Bice-Urbach has a specialty in best practices in providing telebehavioral health services. Dr. Bice-Urbach also has a clinical specialty in treating children and adolescents with anxiety disorders through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with a primary focus on treating children with Selective Mutism. At the Center for Child Development, she has been offering assessment, individual therapy, group therapy, and family/school consultation and training to support children with Selective Mutism. She is a board member of the Selective Mutism Association and has given several national presentations on Selective Mutism. She also has prioritized trainings for medical facilities and pediatricians on Selective Mutism.

Denise Kinser is a clinical social worker and the founder of Selective Mutism of the Carolinas. Denise is also the parent of a vibrant teen who was once diagnosed with SM. Denise is passionate about educating others about Selective Mutism, and moving toward a future in which mental illness is no longer stigmatized. Denise lives in Charlotte, NC with her husband, two amazing children and two scruffy rescue dogs.

Eleanor Ezell, LCSW, is a licensed therapist in Tennessee and is the Founder and Clinical Director at Child and Family Therapy Collective based in Nashville, TN. She has extensive experience providing evidence-based therapy to children and young teens who struggle with selective mutism, anxiety, ADHD and disruptive behavior disorders, and a wide range of developmental delays.

She attended New York University for graduate training where she trained with and worked very closely with Dr. Steven Kurtz over 5 years treating children with selective mutism and related disorders. She completed a two-year Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Fellowship at The University of Mississippi Medical Center where she also was personally grand funded to bring PCIT-SM and the Brave Buddies/Mighty Mouth Kids Camp model to the state of Mississippi. In the last 10 years, she has participated in, or replicated, intensive treatment in New York, California, Mississippi and soon will replicate in Tennessee. Eleanor currently runs the selective mutism program at her Child and Family Therapy Collective in Nashville, TN where she offers weekly sessions, individual intensives and intensive group model treatment.

Dr. Jami Furr is a Clinical Associate Professor and Senior Psychologist in the Mental Health Interventions and Novel Therapeutics (MINT) Program, and Developer of the Selective Mutism Program at Florida International University Center for Children and Families (CCF). Dr. Furr obtained her doctorate in clinical psychology from Temple University, and completed her clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the NYU Child Study Center and Bellevue Hospital Program in New York. Dr. Furr currently serves as a Trainer for the Network for Expanding Child Wellness in Disaster-Affected Youth (or NEW DAY) - a SAMHSA-funded and National Child Traumatic Stress Network affiliated program providing largescale training and consultation in disaster mental health to youth-serving professionals in disaster-hit regions and disaster-prone regions across the United States. Dr. Furr has extensive clinical expertise and research interests in cognitive and behavioral treatments of childhood anxiety and disruptive behavior disorders, with a particular focus on preschool mental health. She has served as the Clinical Director of several federally funded randomized trials evaluating the acceptability and utility of telehealth strategies for expanding the scope and reach of mental health care; and currently provides training and supervision for clinical services for anxiety, OCD, and/or disruptive behavior problems for children and adolescents. Dr. Furr also has led the field of selective mutism in youth regarding clinical and research programs. She is the Past-President of the Selective Mutism Association and has continued to serve on their Board of Directors for the last 7 years. Dr. Furr is currently conducting one of the first long-term outcome studies on children with selective mutism. She has numerous publications and conducts trainings locally and nationally in the areas of trauma, anxiety, and selective mutism in youth. In 2019, Dr. Furr was the recipient of the Anne Marie Albano Early Career Award for the Integration of Science and Practice from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) and the Florida International University College of Arts, Sciences, and Education Award for Research.

Prof. Ortal Slobodin is a clinical psychologist and an associate professor at the Education Department at Ben-Gurion University. Her research focuses on socio-cultural aspects of development and mental health.

Emily (Doll) Laracy, M.A., M.S., CCC-SLP, is a licensed school-based speech-language pathologist. Her caseload includes students in grades K-5 with a variety of social, emotional, cognitive, and academic needs, including students with selective mutism. Emily has worked in several intensive treatment programs for children with SM, and is the author of the book, "Treating Selective Mutism as a Speech-Language Pathologist." She has been an invited presenter at local, state, and national conferences on the topic of SM, is the author of several webinars, and often provides education and training to school districts and professional organizations about how to meet the needs of children with SM. Her professional interests are in helping children with anxiety and communication needs find the tools to communicate effectively with those around them.

Dr. Panjwani has interdisciplinary training in neuroscience, biology, public health, statistics, and human nutrition. She is currently concluding postdoctoral research at Purdue University examining cross-disciplinary risk factors for autism spectrum disorder. Her work also focuses on characterizing diet, behavior, and sensory-related outcomes in individuals with neurodevelopmental and related disorders, including selective mutism. As an assistant professor at Purdue’s Department of Nutrition Sciences this fall, she will seek to improve the health span of individuals by targeting early life risk factors and addressing issues of access. She will evaluate the safety and efficacy of anti-inflammatory phytochemicals for the prevention and treatment of chronic disease and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Dr. Kate Gibson is a Licensed Psychologist and Board Certified in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. Dr. Gibson earned her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology. She has dedicated her career to the provision of evidence-based treatments. Dr. Gibson owns Parent and Child Psychological Services in Sarasota, Florida, a group private practice focused on providing EBTs for children and teens. Dr. Gibson has expertise in treating anxiety, OCD, selective mutism, trauma and behavior challenges. Dr. Gibson is certified by Kurtz Psychology Consulting as a PCIT Adapted for Selective Mutism Therapist and Within Agency Trainer, and is certified by PCIT International as a PCIT Therapist and Within Agency Trainer. Dr. Gibson is co-author of “Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Adapted for Older Children: A Research Development Manual.” Dr. Gibson has directed SM camps at Kurtz Psychology, Caring Cove, and Parent and Child Psychological Services.